Ruairidh Alexander
@ruairidhalexander.bsky.social
Love books+news, Middle East analyst+Arabist by profession, learning Chinese, daddy to Emma, based in London
If Spurs win all their remaining 13 games they'd probably make the Champions League
February 17, 2025 at 2:20 PM
If Spurs win all their remaining 13 games they'd probably make the Champions League
Reposted by Ruairidh Alexander
Five years in the making, based on dozens of travel to Idlib under HTS control, multiple interviews with Ahmad al-Sharaa, his closest associates, other factions, ministers, dissidents, opponents, civil society, diplomats, and more
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/transfo...
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/transfo...
February 9, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Five years in the making, based on dozens of travel to Idlib under HTS control, multiple interviews with Ahmad al-Sharaa, his closest associates, other factions, ministers, dissidents, opponents, civil society, diplomats, and more
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/transfo...
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/transfo...
Reposted by Ruairidh Alexander
Iraq must return Israeli hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov or else, US hostage envoy warns jpost.com/internationa...
Iraq must return Israeli hostage Elizabeth Tzurkov or else, US hostage envoy warns
"If Elizabeth Tsurkov does not come home NOW, then the Iraqi Prime Minister is either incapable and should be fired or, worse, complicit," Boehler said.
jpost.com
February 5, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Iraq must return Israeli hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov or else, US hostage envoy warns jpost.com/internationa...
This is great from Jamie O'Hara, every word www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N2x...
"Disgraceful, pathetic performance" | Jamie O'Hara rages after Tottenham Hotspur's loss to Leicester
YouTube video by Sky Sports News
www.youtube.com
January 27, 2025 at 7:21 AM
This is great from Jamie O'Hara, every word www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N2x...
Reposted by Ruairidh Alexander
President Trump has issued an executive order to redesignate Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a foreign terrorist organization, calling the group a threat to regional security, the White House said.
Trump Re-Labels Yemen’s Houthi Rebels as Terrorists
The move will authorize harsher penalties on the Iran-backed group, which has attacked Israel and disrupted global shipping trade in the Red Sea for over a year.
www.nytimes.com
January 23, 2025 at 5:35 PM
President Trump has issued an executive order to redesignate Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a foreign terrorist organization, calling the group a threat to regional security, the White House said.
Reposted by Ruairidh Alexander
@reuters.com's Amina Ismail and Khalil Ashawi on how Syria's caretaker authorities are attempting to rapidly build out a national police force using their Idlib model, complete with a Sunni Muslim religious component to recruitment and training: www.reuters.com/world/middle...
Syria's new leaders turn to Islamic law in effort to rebuild Assad's police
Syria's new authorities are using Islamic teachings to train a fledgling police force, a move officers say aims to instil a sense of morality as they race to fill a security vacuum after dismantling ousted president Bashar al-Assad's notoriously corrupt and brutal security forces.
www.reuters.com
January 23, 2025 at 5:41 PM
@reuters.com's Amina Ismail and Khalil Ashawi on how Syria's caretaker authorities are attempting to rapidly build out a national police force using their Idlib model, complete with a Sunni Muslim religious component to recruitment and training: www.reuters.com/world/middle...
Reposted by Ruairidh Alexander
We interviewed the commander of a U.S.-backed Syrian unit at Tanf, deep in the Syrian desert on the border with Iraq and Jordan. Colonel Salem Turki Al-Antri said a withdrawal of US support to his men in counter-IS mission would be “devastating.”
www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/20...
www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/20...
Withdrawal of US support in Syria would be ‘nightmare’ in fight against ISIS, says commander of allies | The National
Syrian Free Army leader tells The National American technological superiority is key to tackling the extremist group
www.thenationalnews.com
January 23, 2025 at 7:27 AM
We interviewed the commander of a U.S.-backed Syrian unit at Tanf, deep in the Syrian desert on the border with Iraq and Jordan. Colonel Salem Turki Al-Antri said a withdrawal of US support to his men in counter-IS mission would be “devastating.”
www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/20...
www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/20...
Reposted by Ruairidh Alexander
⚡️ Ukraine's NATO prospects depend on Trump, Zelensky says.
"Everything depends on the United States. If Trump is ready to see Ukraine in NATO, we will be in NATO, everyone will be in favor. If President Trump is not ready to see us in NATO, we will not be in NATO," President Zelensky said.
"Everything depends on the United States. If Trump is ready to see Ukraine in NATO, we will be in NATO, everyone will be in favor. If President Trump is not ready to see us in NATO, we will not be in NATO," President Zelensky said.
Ukraine's NATO prospects depend on Trump, Zelensky says
"Everything depends on the United States. If Trump is ready to see Ukraine in NATO, we will be in NATO, everyone will be in favor. If President Trump is not ready to see us in NATO, we will not be in ...
kyivindependent.com
January 22, 2025 at 10:11 AM
⚡️ Ukraine's NATO prospects depend on Trump, Zelensky says.
"Everything depends on the United States. If Trump is ready to see Ukraine in NATO, we will be in NATO, everyone will be in favor. If President Trump is not ready to see us in NATO, we will not be in NATO," President Zelensky said.
"Everything depends on the United States. If Trump is ready to see Ukraine in NATO, we will be in NATO, everyone will be in favor. If President Trump is not ready to see us in NATO, we will not be in NATO," President Zelensky said.
Reposted by Ruairidh Alexander
Greenland is not for sale.
And in other words….👇
And in other words….👇
January 22, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Greenland is not for sale.
And in other words….👇
And in other words….👇
Are Spurs actually going to get relegated
January 19, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Are Spurs actually going to get relegated
Former Israeli brigadier general: Hamas is rebuilding faster than IDF can eradicate it, Muhammad Sinwar is managing everything www.wsj.com/world/middle...
Hamas Has Another Sinwar. And He’s Rebuilding.
Militants in Gaza are recruiting new fighters under the leadership of Yahya Sinwar’s younger brother, Mohammed Sinwar, known as “Shadow.”
www.wsj.com
January 13, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Former Israeli brigadier general: Hamas is rebuilding faster than IDF can eradicate it, Muhammad Sinwar is managing everything www.wsj.com/world/middle...
Reposted by Ruairidh Alexander
Reposted by Ruairidh Alexander
At least five people have been killed by the California fires in what an official called “one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles.” The risk remained on Thursday for current fires to spread and for other fires to ignite. nyti.ms/3CbOEoD
January 9, 2025 at 10:39 PM
At least five people have been killed by the California fires in what an official called “one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles.” The risk remained on Thursday for current fires to spread and for other fires to ignite. nyti.ms/3CbOEoD
Reposted by Ruairidh Alexander
The wildfires in Los Angeles have killed at least five people and burned more than 27,000 acres, equivalent to nearly 20,000 football fields. Officials warned that extreme fire danger would continue for at least another day. Follow live updates.
Destructive California Wildfires Burn Across L.A., Including Hollywood: Live Updates
The two largest blazes are the most destructive to ever hit the city, and a smaller one burned overnight in the Hollywood Hills. More extreme fire danger is expected on Thursday.
www.nytimes.com
January 9, 2025 at 11:00 AM
The wildfires in Los Angeles have killed at least five people and burned more than 27,000 acres, equivalent to nearly 20,000 football fields. Officials warned that extreme fire danger would continue for at least another day. Follow live updates.
Reposted by Ruairidh Alexander
Brussels will be watching whether Musk breaks EU law in far-right livestream www.politico.eu/article/elon...
Brussels will be watching whether Musk breaks EU law in far-right livestream
Up to 150 experts in Brussels and Seville will be checking whether Musk’s livestream interview boosts the German far right.
www.politico.eu
January 9, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Brussels will be watching whether Musk breaks EU law in far-right livestream www.politico.eu/article/elon...
Reposted by Ruairidh Alexander
Liz Truss’s lawyers have written to Keir Starmer, possibly in green ink www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
January 9, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Liz Truss’s lawyers have written to Keir Starmer, possibly in green ink www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
Reposted by Ruairidh Alexander
Enab Baladi backgrounder on the entity established by the new HTS government to manage these and other border crossings and customs services: www.enabbaladi.net/732375/%D9%8...
January 4, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Enab Baladi backgrounder on the entity established by the new HTS government to manage these and other border crossings and customs services: www.enabbaladi.net/732375/%D9%8...
Assad's soldiers give up their weapons in Syrian 'reconciliation centres' | BBC News
www.youtube.com/watch?v=niX4...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=niX4...
Assad's soldiers give up their weapons in Syrian 'reconciliation centres' | BBC News
YouTube video by BBC News
www.youtube.com
December 30, 2024 at 7:11 AM
Assad's soldiers give up their weapons in Syrian 'reconciliation centres' | BBC News
www.youtube.com/watch?v=niX4...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=niX4...
Reposted by Ruairidh Alexander
Italian journalist Cecilia Sala detained by Iranian police while reporting from Tehran, officials say
Italian journalist Cecilia Sala detained by Iranian police while reporting from Tehran, officials say
An Italian journalist has been detained by Iranian police while reporting in Tehran, Italy's foreign ministry has said.
news.sky.com
December 27, 2024 at 9:36 PM
Italian journalist Cecilia Sala detained by Iranian police while reporting from Tehran, officials say
Reposted by Ruairidh Alexander
"Egypt's revenues from the Suez Canal fell by more than 60 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year amid the Red Sea tensions, resulting in a loss of nearly $7 billion, a presidential statement said on Thursday." english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/...
Egypt Suez Canal revenues fall by over 60% in 2024 due to Red Sea tensions - Urban & Transport - Egypt
Egypt's revenues from the Suez Canal fell by more than 60 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year amid the Red Sea tensions, resulting in a loss of nearly $7 billion, a presidential statemen...
english.ahram.org.eg
December 27, 2024 at 5:56 PM
"Egypt's revenues from the Suez Canal fell by more than 60 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year amid the Red Sea tensions, resulting in a loss of nearly $7 billion, a presidential statement said on Thursday." english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/...
Reposted by Ruairidh Alexander
“We would later find out that Assad was so cheap and cowardly that he even left behind the teenage children of his elder sister Bushra, who were visiting him at his home in the upscale neighborhood of al-Malki in central Damascus.”
newlinesmag.com/reportage/a-...
A Firsthand Account of the Liberation of Damascus
Bashar al-Assad might have wanted his fall to precipitate chaos, but in Syria’s capital, order prevails and life is improving
newlinesmag.com
December 25, 2024 at 11:53 PM
“We would later find out that Assad was so cheap and cowardly that he even left behind the teenage children of his elder sister Bushra, who were visiting him at his home in the upscale neighborhood of al-Malki in central Damascus.”
newlinesmag.com/reportage/a-...
Reposted by Ruairidh Alexander
How it started
How it is going
How it is going
December 22, 2024 at 2:33 PM
How it started
How it is going
How it is going
Deception and Betrayal: Inside the Final Days of the Assad Regime www.nytimes.com/2024/12/21/w...
Inside the Final Days of the Assad Regime in Syria
President Bashar al-Assad, who wielded fear and force over Syria for more than two decades, fled the country under the cover of night — and a fake political address.
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2024 at 7:26 AM
Deception and Betrayal: Inside the Final Days of the Assad Regime www.nytimes.com/2024/12/21/w...
Reposted by Ruairidh Alexander
Hello old friends and new... a new FX series based on my book SAY NOTHING has just come out, on Hulu (in the US) and Disney+ (everywhere else). I was involved as a producer and am happy & relieved to report that it has come together really well. Here are a few reviews! time.com/7174152/say-...
'Say Nothing' Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024
FX's adaptation of the Patrick Radden Keefe book isn't just a gripping crime drama—it's an urgent work of political art
time.com
November 17, 2024 at 6:47 PM
Hello old friends and new... a new FX series based on my book SAY NOTHING has just come out, on Hulu (in the US) and Disney+ (everywhere else). I was involved as a producer and am happy & relieved to report that it has come together really well. Here are a few reviews! time.com/7174152/say-...